If you are looking for a unique experience in Portland, you should definitely visit this museum! It…read morewas in a middle of a residential area, as it was inside a residential house structure. From the moment you step inside, you are surrounded by interesting items that catches your attention. The first floor is more like a workshop with few things you can purchase, like really cool looking postcards. The second floor is where you will gasp over and over again. Every inch of the space was filled with oddities and curiosities. It was honestly so memorable and fun in so many ways. The gentleman owner (and creator) of the museum was very welcoming and friendly. We had such interesting time in this museum!

Oddities galore, a very unique museum! It is inside a house on two floors, but I stayed in there…read morefor almost an hour because it was so different from any museum I've ever been to! Some of the displays made me cringe lol (see photo I posted of a skeleton with two heads in a glass dome from artist Kiyomi Hessling). There were other skeletons by her, hair-raising...

What an incredible museum! A must see for train lovers. They also have two train tables for little…read morekids. The staff are extremely friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. A wonderful gift store as well if you need train related gifts. Across the street is a small wood fire pizza and beer place inside train cars so you can go all out. Ample easy parking and clean bathrooms.

They'd even bring a smile to Scrooge!…read more Gray Line Railroad did a phenomenal job of reigning in the Christmas sprit. From the steam train all decked out for the season to the hot chocolate, candy canes, bells, elves, trees and yes...the big man himself even joined in the holiday fun! The train ride went a smidge past Oaks park. Enough for a good taste of the Christmas spirit but not too far to wear out the kiddos. Loved every second! Even after the ride, the fun continued. A dedicated space to write letters to Santa (and yes, he did write back!!! My little one loved getting his letter), hot cocoa/coffee booth (they hand decorated each cup!). I'll be back every year. I appreciate their dedication and warmth to all ages.

This is a pretty great open event space. The staff are pretty friendly. The bartender was great and…read morevery helpful plus a healthy pour is welcome though I did long for more than two vodka choices since it was well vodka or Grey Goose and I don't want either - just a middle road is ideal. I was glad a friend later said I am not alone is loathing Grey Goose and a lot of the supposedly higher shelf vodka's - weird after taste for those of us who actually like tasting our alcohol but a nice mid ground too. Also, I hear the upstairs is neat too but alas, that is a long stair way up - like a lot of the older buildings in Portland, those of us who are not able bodied and have yet to master levitation cannot do it. I had a great time at the Meow Mixer last week an look forward to more events in this space though!

Fun bar & went to support & watch drag queens & kings…read more They also have game consoles to play video games Do not order the food it was not goood however drinks are severely strong but delicious

Such a cool historical building!…read more The firehouse is open to the public Wednesdays and every second Saturday of the month. I believe you can schedule tours and private events at other times, and they do some special events (like photos with Santa). If you're local or enjoy Portland history, I think it's worth a visit. It won't take you all that long. The official tour takes an hour but we walked through in about 15 minutes. It's a great indoor activity for the fireman-loving kid or to assist in a fire safety talk with your children. Things inside the firehouse include: -An emergency response simulator -A fire pole that kids can slide down (!) -A dispatch board exhibit -An exhibit about the destructive power of fire -Antique equipment like hoses, carts, water tanks, etc -Info about the building's history including chew marks from the horses that used to be stabled here

They are only open every Wednesday and the second Saturday of each month. In September 2024, that…read morefell on the same day as the Belmont Street fair. This museum was quite amazing. I did not get a chance to really talk to any of the people working. There was just so much to look at. My favorite was the cab of the firetruck that is a simulator of what it is like to be in the truck when called out for an emergency. Free admission, I recommend this for anyone in the area.

The Portland Puppet Museum is not to be missed! It's one of those quirky, local flavor kind of…read moreattractions that make Portland the wonderful and creative place it is. Don't get me wrong, just because it's quirky doesn't mean the collection isn't impressive. The team here has taken great care in curating a magnificent collection that gives an overview of the history of puppeteering. The one hour presentation, if you take the guided tour, is both informative and highly entertaining. John deserves an award for best museum docent if that exists! Be sure to check out the workshops and presentations on the schedule here, these events are not to be missed!

Visiting Portland amd had to make a stop for this little gem. John was an incredible guide and was…read moresuper knowledgeable about all the puppets on display. I've been to a couple of puppet related museums but this one is by far the most charming and well rounded. Nothing beats hearing some antidotes of our childhood favorite puppets. Would recommend anyone to pay a visit if they're in the area. Puppetry is such a beautiful artistry!

We had a wonderful afternoon with the kids at OMSi with our ASTC reciprocal membership…read more The chemistry and physics labs were so surprisingly hands on, easy to do and understand for kids (aged 5 and 7) and adults alike. The pendulum art was a special hit. We were impressed with the ease and relative coolness of the chemistry experiments and were so happy that we came back when they had capacity again. We even got to see an extra staff-led science experiment involving lighting tubes of alcohol on fire. The bajillion puzzles to play with and solve also entertained us the kids through the grandparents in the group. A great way to way to spend a half day..

This place is NOT a destination for tourist from out of town. I don't know why Reddit suggests it…read more I can see the appeal for locals, where it gives little ones a place to burn off energy in time for nap, but other than that, the exhibits and activities are weak in comparison to other museums. It lacks a uniqueness that Portland has potential to show case, but instead just includes activities that any other museum has. Sigh

A silly, quirky, blast of a time. It is ridiculous to have a whole house dedicated to hats, and…read morewhen you learn about the fabulousness of Alyce - the original collector - it becomes an even more ridiculously wonderful exploration. A big charmer of the place is entering thinking it's about hats, then having bits of history, fashion, tales through time, and an inspiration of lady reveal themselves along the way. It being a private collection, with tours lead by a personal friend of Alyce, this museum is a intimate look at friendship, fun, and how something as simple as hat can make many a statement. Come here if you love bold women, fun outfits, and random historical facts. It's a gem!

What a fun, quirky, boutique museum! Luann gave us an awesome tour and the max number of visitors…read morein one group is five. Only operates on Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 10am. Really informative and educational. Hats arranged by era, by designer, by color and the opportunity to buy a small sampling at the end. One room dedicated to men's hats. If you love fashion at all, this is a must see museum!

My kids, 8 and 4, stopped in to check out the museum. We've been studying Greek mythology and we're…read moreinterested to learn more about Greek history. There isn't much related to ancient history or mythology, but we enjoyed seeing the artifacts and costumes. There isn't much hours are a bit limited, so I was glad we could make it in.

I've been wanting to visit this museum since they featured Greek artist Tom E. Stefopoulos…read more(https://www.yelp.com/biz/lovejoy-columns-portland-2.) So the annual Greek Festival, which I've been wanting to visit too, was the perfect opportunity. It's open year around select hours or by appointment. In past years, they have had long-running theme shows. Now they have a little bit of everything from their permanent collection. They have clothes, jewelry, archeological artifacts and a large collection of textiles and clothing with very good explanatory signage. They have history exhibits covering Greek immigrant entrepreneurs. They have the historical context. And they have a collection of icons. It's a small museum, but the quality and preservation is excellent. They have a few books for sale, but it's really not an exit through the gift shop museum experience. If you have a Greek family or children interested in the history and culture of the region, it's excellent. It would also be good for children interested in costuming. It's the place to go to learn about the region, the culture and how that relates to Portland today.